Obituaries for Oct. 20, 2015

PAID OBITUARY

Robert William Garver, Jr.

November 4, 1927-September 22, 2015

Robert “Bob” William Garver, Jr. crossed over the river Jordan into heaven on Tuesday Sept. 22, 2015, at Park Manor Care Center in Walla Walla, Wash. He was 87 years old. Bob was born on November 4, 1927 in Vancouver, Washington to Robert W. Garver Sr. and Berenieth Rex Garver.

Bob graduated from Washougal High School in 1946. He studied pre-law at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., and while there met Joyce Ellen Gittings from Camas. They graduated in June of 1950 and were married on June 24th. While Joyce taught school, Bob went to Willamette Law School in Salem, Ore., graduating in 1953. He was drafted into the US Army, serving at Fort Ord in California. While stationed there, their eldest son, Jeffrey William was born in February of 1955.

After leaving the service later in 1955, Bob and his family moved to Washougal. Bob passed the Washington Bar Exam and went into law practice with his father in Camas. In June of 1966 their daughter, Julie Ellen was born, followed in November of 1969 by their youngest son, Rex Hugh.

During these years the family enjoyed many trips to Harmony Falls Lodge at Spirit Lake, waterskiing days on the Columbia River, and snowmobiling all over the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. One favorite memory is of the family going out on snowmobiles to get a Christmas tree, always a Noble Fir. Bob and Joyce built “The House on the Hill” above Camas-Washougal, and many a party was enjoyed there by family and friends, including some spectacular Fourth of July Fireworks viewing parties.

Bob and Joyce divorced in 1978.

Bob met Kathryn “Kaye” Lea (Mundell) Gadaire, and they married in April of 1980. They lived in Camas for many years, and in 1983, Bob retired after practicing law for 28 years. In 1999, Bob and Kaye moved to Joseph, Ore., to run the Wallowa Lake United Methodist Church Camp, a job they both enjoyed. They served at the camp until the end of 2001.

Bob loved classical and sacred music and liked to sing and dance. He and Joyce were also ballroom dance champions at Lewis and Clark, and sang in several different choirs and chorales over the years. They also were in several musicals and many Gilbert and Sullivan musicals. Bob would often break out in song, reliving his various roles, and one of his favorite spirituals was Deep River. Later in life, Bob and Kaye enjoyed dancing and listening to live music, and had a shared love of classical and sacred music.

Bob liked to play golf throughout his life, sharing that sport with friends, his mother, father, and son Jeff. He also enjoyed many years as a Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop 312 in Camas. Along with Assistant Scoutmaster Dr. Ed McAninch, Bob and the scouts hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 50 mile segments (50 milers) between the Columbia River to near the Canadian border each summer, and went to scout camps at Spirit Lake near Mt. St. Helens, Camp Baldwin, Camp Meriwether, Snow Camp, and Jamborees.

Bob enjoyed many activities with both scouts and family, including hiking in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, snowmobiling, camping, canoeing, waterskiing, and fishing. He also enjoyed playing many different card games, hunting and taking long drives. He was known for hiking without paths and driving on back roads even the forest service wouldn’t use.

He belonged to many organizations besides choirs and scouting. Some include Toast Masters, Washougal Lions Club, Camas Moose Lodge, Stevenson Eagles, St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Lostine Presbyterian Church and Joseph United Methodist Church Choirs, Wallowa Valley Chorale and the Joseph American Legion.

He spent many hours working on vehicles; repairing, maintaining and rebuilding any motor vehicle he could, until computers took over. After retiring, he also relished “hands on” jobs such as logging and construction.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his younger brother, John, and his first wife, Joyce. He is survived by second wife, Kaye, daughter, Julie of Vancouver, WA; sons, Jeff (Debra) of Corvallis, OR and Rex (Kelly) of San Diego, CA; and by four grandchildren: Andrew (Mary) of Tuscan, AZ; Daniel and Andrea of Corvallis and Kaitlyn of San Diego.

Although he was dubbed “Hurricane Bob” by his children for his quick temper, he was a kind man who would help people in any way possible in times of need, especially strangers in need. The words “I love you” and “I’m proud of you” were not easy for him to voice, but he tried to show those emotions with actions. Though he will missed dearly, he will not be forgotten.

A Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, October 17th, in Wallowa, Ore. An informal gathering to share memories will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 24th, in the Fireside Room of St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Camas with Dr. Ed McAninch as MC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Boy Scouts of America Cascade Pacific Council, Washington State Trails Association or Pacific Crest Trail Association.

The complete obituaries can be found in the Oct. 20 print edition of the Post-Record.

Matthew F. Nunes

Matthew Forrest Nunes died Oct. 12, 2015. He was 33.

A celebration of Matt’s life was held Oct. 18 at Brown’s Funeral Home in Camas.